Polly D

Thank you Sian, that's so helpful. Amazing what you can find on YouTube! P

Not strictly family related I know. I could do with some assistance with attaching bias binding on a small quilt/mat I'm making. I used to use wide ribbon but know that bb gives a nicer finish. I have two questions: how do I do the corners? And do I stitch the back down first, or the front?! I'm using a machine, not doing by hand. Sorry these are such amateur questions to the pros out there! Thanks in advance. P

Is that the green one?!

Maggot O'Farrell's The Hand That First Held Mine.

Completely agree EDmummy. Especially if you're as scatalogical as me. It's absolutely hilarious.

Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Problem with that, is that you're nice and sane. > These lads may be acting this way due to having > arsehole olds. This is what I meant in my post: we thought the parent/guardian of the two boys who were harassing us could well be "so what?" in attitude but not at all. If you can go and talk to the parent who you see reading in the garden, it could be a good place to start.

God, awful! I expect the mother will know about it now her son has spent the night in prison. We had a bad experience a couple of years ago with 2 teenage boys living in flats which overlook our garden: they pelted eggs, oranges, apples etc into our garden from their balcony when we were out there, on a daily basis for about 2 weeks, narrowly missing our newborn son's head one day by about 50cm with an orange which then exploded on the decking. I still shudder to think what might have happened if it had hit his head. We contacted the police and nothing happened. We worked out which flat they were in, went round when we could tell the mother was in and spoke to her via the intercom. Like you, we weren't sure what kind of response we would get but she was horrified by what had been going on, assured us it wouldn't happen again, and it hasn't. Worth talking to her, I would say.

Second recommendation for Village Way on Lordship Lane. They are so good with the kids and are great at cutting their hair. They take bookings for children Mon-Thurs only, and currently it costs ?10 I think. I know that feels like a lot but believe me, it's better than attempting to do it yourself. Free lolly too.

Cuppa tea: how about choosing to mix feed so that the dad can have a hand in feeding his child too? And so an exhausted mum can sleep for, say, 3 hours in a row?! If one finds expressing just doesn't work. But I'm not having a go, please don't think that. Like I said: it's an emotive subject to debate and is all about personal choice. We all have had similar experiences through becoming mums I'm sure, just not the same. What I find sad is people being made to feel guilty for making a choice. Whichever choice that is. There's so many more choices to make, this is just the start!

cuppa tea Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- "It is sad when women, probably through lack of support, don't continue." Why is it sad? Please don't assume that not breastfeeding is through a lack of support.

We all know this is an emotive subject, and hopefully emc's discussion group will have a healthy debate. What I find interesting is that many sole breastfeeders appear to feel they are pressured into introducing formula (esp re weight gain for baby), whereas formula/mixed feeders often talk about (me included) the guilt of doing so. So I see what new mother is getting at on that point.

I saw it in Red Apple on Monday (newsagents opp the library where the 40 terminates). They may have them still and are pretty helpful so if you asked, sure they'd try to oblige. Also the shopbit further down, next to sainsburys, often sells off the giveaway toys from old mags so again, worth a look.

Does Mr B actually know how you're feeling about this? Think your last point re him being able to take over while you're busy with Miss B when she comes is a good one. I went away for 2 nights in Feb when my son was 2 and I definitely noticed a shift in the parenting (in a lovely way) when I came back. I do understand this will be stressing you out, and you're going to miss the boy a lot, but I wouldn't worry about the sleep/routine - you don't know until you do it whether it will make a difference so no point in worrying about something that might not happen. If Mr B has lots of valid reasons for both going (and it is half his decision too) then they should go and you should take this as your moment to totally chill, rest and await your baby's arrival, once both boys back home. Sounds as if he is most considerately wanting to give you a break. Sure S will have an amazing time with his daddy. Equally, as you seem to do the lion's share of the caring for S, you may find Mr B singing your praises in a 'Wow, I don't know how you do it' way when back. Of course if you find you can't cope once they've gone, then they can come back earlier. It's not the other side of the world and at least you all tried. Know it's easy to say as not involved but try not to worry...

You should be able to find the list through FIS: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Preschooldevelopmentandlearning/NurseriesPlaygroupsReceptionClasses/DG_10013534

Step up stool - ikea do a great one for about ?1. And potty, boots do them cheap.

Mrs TP: that's a lovely anecdote, and am impressed HV came to your house! Intention in original post was not to knock HV's, tho along the way I've felt frustrated by some of them, but to consider the merits of the 2 yr check, possibly simply 'cos I knew/thought my son would not play ball. I remember sitting in the waiting room at hospital for 2yr check which never happened, thinking:'if only they could observe him from a distance', as he stuck stickers in a colouring book and made loud observations about other peole in waiting room. When son was tiny I initially held on to every word the HV said. I met some amazing ones, and some truly frustrating ones but I learnt that like with most things: we hear what we want to hear and get annoyed when we don't.

That's a really helpful link Saffron, thanks. R seems to tick most boxes I'd say. I'm tempted to go just for the free baby stuff but think the drama really won't be worth it. However, I am taking him to the dentist for the first time this week - wish me luck!

I hadn't even realised this existed until a diligent friend told me she had taken her 2 year old. So I duly made an appointment at Dulwich hospital about 2 months ago and took my son. The Health Visitor was 45 minutes late and then we were told by a colleague that she had to cancel. She did leave me a message the next day to rearrange but I decided not to bother. I know that my son would not play ball for the appointment: he's a bit wary of docs etc and I think he wouldn't display his, errrrr, best side. I don't have any concerns about his development. I'm pretty confident he's doing what he should be (including the most amazing displays of tantrum meltdowns). However, now I've received a letter telling me he is overdue his 2 year check. I want to ignore it but what are the consequences? I know the checks exist for a good reason and I'm not adverse to taking him, I just feel we already tried, and I'm quite sure it will not be a positive/useful experience. Am I going to get a big black mark next to my name for not going?!

It's been there for weeks...

Always used to get annoyed at being asked "are you feeding him yourself?" Errrrrm...

Exactly Trish. When they sat down in that shopping centre on an uncomfy looking bench I was willing them to go to a cafe, find a sofa, get out a muslin, feed the baby and have a coffee and chat. It doesn't gave to be 'in your face' like the ladies in Brighton were portrayed. I say portrayed because she called them (or they called themselves lactivists). I liked it when she interviewed the Essex footballers and they were shyly nonchalant about the whole thing.

Meant to add, as Citizen ED said: this will always be an emotive topic, and that this prog felt like it was about Cherry, the presenter, going on a personal journey to assuage *her* guilt for stopping breastfeeding her daughter at 3 weeks.

Hmmmm I'm going to try and defend the prog and the presenter. I watched her other progs a while ago re giving birth, getting married, and getting pissed and found her very watchable. Saying that, I'm not sure what the prog was trying to achieve exactly apart from showing how different people feed their babies, and hopefully some people could relate to some bits. What surprised me was how it seemed that lots of people - whether pro boob or bottle - felt chastised almost for choosing to breastfeed. She should have come to east dulwich! It wasn't particularly balanced on that score.

I need to drive from ED to central London (behind Oxford Street) for various reasons this Sunday. Does anyone know whether I'll be able to cross the river at Vauxhall and get into town via Victoria? Thanks

Apologies for going off-topic but does anyone else find this a curious quote in the Independent piece re the tragic deaths of Sareena Ali and her daughter in childbirth at Queen's Hospital, Romford: Sarah Harman, a solicitor representing the family, said: "I have been rocked by this case. You don't expect an intelligent and glamorous young woman, slim as a reed, to die." I imagine it's taken out of context, I hope, because one could read it as the implication being that she shouldn't have died because she was all those things, rather than it being an absolutely tragic and heart-breaking case of negligence by the labour ward.